Why fathers did or did not take parental leave and their leave practices were studied in two countries with very different policies and cultural contexts, namely France and Sweden. The couples' income contributions and negotiations were assessed. Data were drawn from interviews completed in 1998 and 1999 with 20 French and 35 Swedish heterosexual couples who had at least one child below school-age living in the same household. The economic situation of the couple was an important reason in both nations as to why mothers used most or all of the leave. Evidence of negotiations about taking leave was expressed by Swedish fathers but not by French fathers. Swedish fathers expressed a child oriented masculinity, which is interpreted as representing modest change in hegemonic masculinity. In France, fathers' taking parental leave was not considered an alternative among parents. This practice and their rhetoric suggest no change in hegemonic masculinity.